Mumbai had declared their first innings at 528 for eight, powered by Sarfaraz Khan's 154 and Akash Anand's 117. In reply, Himachal Pradesh were dismissed for just 140 runs, handing Mumbai a substantial first-innings lead of 388 runs.
Mumbai enforced the follow-on, putting Himachal Pradesh under further pressure. The visitors' second innings ended at 291 in 99.1 overs on Wednesday, sealing a comprehensive victory for Mumbai.
Avasthi played a decisive role in the second innings, finishing with five wickets for 44 runs. Tushar Deshpande and Shams Mulani supported him well, claiming two wickets each.
At the end of play on Tuesday, the third day of the match, Himachal Pradesh had reached 144 for three. On the final day, captain Pukhraj Manna scored 50 runs, while Vaibhav Kaltan contributed 63. Both attempted to resist Mumbai's bowling attack, but their efforts were insufficient to prevent the innings defeat.
Mohit Avasthi 5 WICKETS! (17.1-3-44-5), Himachal Pradesh 291/10 #HPvMUM #RanjiTrophy #Elite
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) October 21, 2026
With this victory, Mumbai reclaimed the top position in the Group D points table, taking their tally to 14 points from two matches. They had opened their campaign with an innings-and-155-run victory over Chandigarh. Mumbai will next face Haryana in their third match, scheduled to begin on October 26 at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).
Mohit Avasthi 5 WICKETS! (17.1-3-44-5), Himachal Pradesh 291/10 #HPvMUM #RanjiTrophy #Elite
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) October 21, 2026
Meanwhile, the 92nd season of the Ranji Trophy, one of India's most prestigious domestic cricket competitions, began on Sunday, October 11. The performances of prominent players seeking to retain their places in India's Test team or make a comeback to the national side are expected to attract particular attention throughout the tournament.
A total of 32 teams are competing in the Elite group, with the contest set to determine which side emerges as champion. According to the directive issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), senior players will once again be required to participate in domestic competitions whenever possible.
The Ranji Trophy will be conducted in two phases this season. The first phase runs from October 11 to November 5, during which each team will play four matches. The second phase is scheduled to begin on January 17, 2027. Mumbai's emphatic win over Himachal Pradesh has strengthened its position early in the campaign, with the team now preparing for its next league fixture against Haryana.
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